PETA To Redskins: Keep Name, Change Logo To A Potato

While the concept isn’t new, this is the first time we’ve seen a graphic of what the new logo might look like. Yep. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is proposing that the Washington Redskins keep their name, but change the logo to reflect the redskin potato as the team’s new mascot. Seems reasonable to me.

The redskin potato would be a noble mascot for a variety of reasons. Potatoes are also native Americans, having been cultivated in Peru for millennia. A tasty, versatile, animal- and environmentally friendly vegan staple, potatoes are now the most popular vegetable in the U.S. They are loaded with nutrients, including iron, potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and even protein, and red potatoes in particular are high in antioxidants. (Take that, Cheeseheads.)

Kudos, anyway, to PETA for recognizing that “America” also includes South and Central America. Many people forget that.

“Words have histories of their own, and they evolve. The word Negro, 50 years ago, was the most respected word in referring to an African American. It was used 15 times by Martin Luther King in the I Have a Dream speech. Fifty years later, because of its own history, having to do with Black Power and a complicated history, it’s become a word that is patronizing. You would never say there are 30 Negroes in the U.S. House. You wouldn’t say that.

“In the same way, Redskins has evolved,” Krauthammer continued. “And despite its history, it is now considered a slur. Growing up, I used to use the word gyp. I never knew until I became an adult that it was a shortening of Gypsy. And I didn’t take a poll of Gypsies at that point to see how many are offended. I stopped using it. It’s very easy to do. It has nothing to do with the sensitivities of a mass of people. It has to do with simple, elementary respect. You don’t use that word if you can avoid it.”

He’s right. I myself am trying to stop using the word “douchebag” in place of “Donald Trump”. It’s not easy, but the fight continues.